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CHARTERED BUILDING SURVEYOR
Solar Panel Inspections
As Level 3 Master Thermographers, Richard Bedford Surveying specialises in solar panel inspections using thermal imaging.
Solar panels are now present on thousands of roofs, whether that be on a residential, commercial or an institutional basis. The size, layout and number of modules can vary from a dozen or so on a residential building, to over 1000 on a commercial building. Solar farms can have thousands of modules in place.
This represents a significant initial financial outlay in the first instance and one that needs to be checked annually to confirm that the system is safe and also that the modules are working well and efficiently. That is where thermal imaging using thermal drones and conventional thermal imaging cameras used by certified thermographers and analysed by them comes in and brings real value.
By instructing a thermal imaging inspection annually using a certified thermographer you may find that no action is required following the issue of the signed and dated report. Should it transpire that anomalies are found, only then would you need to instruct others to investigate in detail the electrical system composition to complete the recommendations for returning the solar panel system to a safe and well-operating level.
Your certified thermographer will be able to detect the following anomalies using thermal drones and thermal imaging cameras:
- String errors.
- Defective diodes.
- Faulty cells.
- Surface cracks and breaks.
- Animal debris.
- Shadowing.
Our inspections are always critically planned and timed so that all conditions are correct, in order that the most robust thermographic inspections are undertaken as defined under current thermographic and solar panel inspection standards. This includes correct irradiance levels, data capturing requirements as well as professionally analysed thermal imaging reports produced by Level 3 Master Thermographers at Richard Bedford Surveying.
We believe that our combined competencies relating to building thermography, thermal drone technology, solar panel technology, building surveying and architectural technology allow us to provide our clients with the most robust and professionally competent inspections and reports on their buildings currently available.
Please contact us for more information on any of the above, as we would be happy to have an informal chat with you in the first instance.